Drilling apparatus



E. G. GAR-rm DRILLING APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1928 @MyW/W2 WN sept. 22, 1931.

Ill/

-means for a hammering motor.

'parts in a different position.

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 unirse STATES- PATENT OFFICE ELMER G. GARTIN, F CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVAN nu CHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS br .sa I

DRILLING APPARATUS This inve tion` relates to drilling apparatus and particularly" to iluid distribution In designing motors for drills of the 'larger sizes, itl is found that when the usual three-spool distribution .valve is employed having only a single admission to each end of the cylinder, the valve and valve chest must be made exceedingly large in'order to take'care ofthe large amount of air necessary to be supplied to actuate the larger size piston. This increases the size of the projection of the valve chest outwardly from the cylinder and further increases the size and weight of the parts.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to devise means in a Huid actuated valve of the type employed indrilling motors whereby the amount of fluid admitted to .the cylinder may be increased without increasing the size of the valve. A further objectl ot the invention is to, decrease the amount of pressure fluid required for, actuating the Valve. A more specific object is s to provide a fluid distribution system having double admission means for op osite ends of the cylinder. Another speci c object is to combine the advantages of a double admission luid actuated valve with only a' single exhaust groove at each end of the cylinder with a piston controlled 'exhaust passage in the cylinder wall.V Other objects and advantageso-'I' the invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

Tn the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my inventionmay assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. is a .central longitudinal section through a drilling motor constructed in accordan'ce with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar section with parts shown in elevation and with all the moving The motor illustratedin the drawings has .a cylinder 1 providedv with a bore 2 in which a piston 3 is reciprocably mounted. A strikingl bar 4 extends forwardly from the piston into the interior of a `chuQ/k housing 5 in which is mounted a drill steel 6.' A collar 7 engages a shoulder 8 on the chuck housing and the usual tensioned side vrods connect the collar-7 with lugs on the back .head 9 for holding the parts of the drill in assembled relation. The mechanism illustrated is of the rear end automatic rotation type employing a ratchet mechanism l() mounted in the back head from which extends a rifie bar 11. The lutes 12-on this rifle bar cooperate with spiral `lugs 13 in' a rifle nut 14- to cause the piston to be automatically rotated in onedirection during reciprocation, as is well understood in the art. Rotativo movement of the piston is transmitted through straight lugs 15 on the striking bar and cooperatingl lugs 16 in the chuck nut 17 to a rotating chuck sleeve 18 which has a driving connection with the drill steel 6. A cleansing Huid supply tube 19 is shown' extending centrally through the entire mechaylaterally projecting boss 27 formed integral with the cylinder. A buffer plug 28 is secured in one end of the valve chest in any suitable manner and another buffer plug 29 is fixed in the other valve bushing 26 herein by means of a cylindrical portion 30 having a drive Afit in a bore of the valve bushing. In the bore of the valve chest are formed a series of annular grooves 31, 32 and 33 which are in constant communication with the motive Huid supply through-the passage 25. At opposite ends ofthe valvechest are a pairo exhaust grooves '34 and 35 which com- `municate with the atmosphere. The forward vend ofthe valve chest opens into the forward end of the cylinder throughtwo parts 36 and 37 and' a passage 38 with which both of said ports communicate. Similarly .the rear end lof the cylinder communicates with the valve chest through a corresponding pair of ports 39 and 40 and a passage 41. Mounted in the bore of the valve chest and between the buifer plugs 28 and 29 is a multi-spool valve generally designated 42 having its opposite end spools 47a and 51a hollowed outto fit over the buifer plugs and forming guiding and supporting portions for the valve. The valve is herein provided with a series of substantially V-shaped grooves 43, 44, 45 and 46 which serve to conduct motive fluid through the valve chest. The valve has a series of intermediate spools 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51 for controlling the various ports, it being noted that the central spool 49 has a central groove 52 formed therein-whose principal function is to reduce the weight of the valve. lIt will also be noted that in effect the spools 47 and 48 constitute a single spool and may be formed as such if desired. The saine is true of the spools 50 and 51. They are preferably formed in the manner illustrated, however, for the purpose of reducing the weight of the valve to a'minimum and the construction has the additional advantage that a certain quantity of pressure fluid may be stored in the space between the spools to be instantly released Awhen .the groove comes into communication with a port leading to the cylinder. Itv will be noted that the diameters of all the intermediate spools are equal and larger than the diameters of the end spools soas to provide a dierential area for holding the valve in either of its extreme positions. Suitable throwing passages 53 and 54 are provided for admitting pressure fluid from the cylinder to opposite ends of the valve to shift the same from one position to the other. The passage 53 communicates with the cylinder through a port 55 and with the rear end of the valve chest through a port 56. Passage 54 communicates with the front end of the valve chest through av port 57 and opens into the cylinder at 58.-

The usual vent passages 288L and 29a are provided at opposite ends of the valve chest. An exhaust port 59 is formed in the cylinder wall -at about the location shown so as to permit a large quantity of the exhaust fluid to pass directly from the cylinder to the atmosphere.

At the forward end of the cylinder is secured a bushing or buffer plug 60 which forms a bearing for the striking bar. 4 and also forms an abutment for the piston. -An annular groove 61 is formed on the outer periphery of this buffer plug and communil cates by a passage 62 with the forward end of the cylinder and by a passage 63 with the interior of the chuck housing.

-It is. believed that the mode of operation of my improved drilling apparatus will now be easily understood in view of the above description. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the throttle valve open to vpermit motive fluid to pass into the valve chest through the passages 23, 24 and 25, admission takes place to the rear end'of the cylinder through the annular groove 32 in the valve chest, groove 44 in the valve and passages 40 and 41. Admission also simultaneously occurs through the annular groove 31 in the valve chest 43, in the valve, and passages 39 and 41, thereby giving the eifect of double admission. The exhaust groove 34 is cut oi'at this time by the end or guiding portion of the valve. The forward end of the cylinder is open to exhaust through passages 38, 37, groove`46 on the valve and exhaust groove 35 in the valve chest. The valve is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the unbalanced action of live motive fluid in groove 43. noted that the spool 47 is of slightly larger' diameter than the end spool 47 a and that the action of pressure on all the other spools is substantially balanced. The piston now moves forwardly due to the action of live motive uid on the-rear end of the piston'and port 58 is uncovered, thereby admitting'luid through the throwing passage 54 to the front end of the valvey chest. The action of live pressure on the end spool of the valve quickly overcomes the unbalanced action on the dit'- ferential area and throws the valve to the Arearward position as shown in Fig. 2. The piston travels forwardly under its own lt will be momentum and by the expansive action of the motive 'luid in the rear end of the cylinder, and delivers a blow on the drill steel 6. As soon as the valve is thrown, admission of motive fluid takes place to the forward end of Athe cylinder through'annular groove 32 in 'the valve chest, groove 45 on the valve and passages 36 and 38 and also at the same time through annular groove 33 in the valve chest, groove 46 on the valve, and passages .37 and 38, thereby giving the eilect of double admission also to the front end of the cylinder. While a large part of the motive iluid in the rear end of the cylinder is probably exhausted as soon as the piston overruns 'the cylinder exhaust port 56, the rear end its rearward stroke uncovers port 55, motive fluid is admitted through the throwing passages 54 to the rear end of the valve chest as it is uncovered by the rearward stroke of the' piston.

It will be understood, during the operation of the mechanism, that the piston, chuck sleeve, and drill steel are intermittently rotated by the ratchet mechanism l0 and rifle barll. Also cleansing fluid is continuously supplied through ,the central tube 19 to the bore of the drill steel. This is intended primarily to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure although, if desired to run the drill dry, it may be connected to the pressure fluid supply. It will also be noted that duringftheoperation of the mechanism the passage 62 vcommunicates with the live motive fluid supply during a material part of the rearward stroke and thus permits live motive fluid, together with the lubricant which is suspended in it, to pass through .passage 63 in the buffer ring into the interior of the chuck housing. The lubricant which is ordinarily supplied by a line oiler in the pressure fluid supply line serves to effectively lubricate the mechanism inthe front end of the drill and the motive fluid escapes through the grooves in the chuck nut 16 into the bore of the drill steel where it mixes with the liquid from tube 19 to provide an effective cleansing fluid for removing they cuttings from the hole.

Asa result of my invention it will be evident that a very simple, compact and practical construction is provided which will effect double admission to opposite ends of the cylinder and permit the size of the valve to be materially reduced. lt Will also be clear that for a given size of valve and cylinder the double admission feature made possible by my invention may be utilized tol increase the speed of the drilling apparatus due to the less restricted flow of motive fluid from the supply passage to the opposite ends of the cylinder. It will also be clear that the amount of motive fluid spent in actu-- ating the valve is materially reduced since the size of the throwing areas for a given size of drill is substantially reduced. -Another result of my invention is the effective lubrication of the front end mechanism and the provision of an adequate supply of cleansing fluid to the drill steel at all times by allowing pressure fluid to escape directly from the supplythrough the buffer ring into the interior of the chuck housing. Y W'hile I have in this application yspecifi cally described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is 'shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other ways without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, and means for eecting reciprocation of said piston including a piston controlled fluid actuated valve, a valve chest providing a chamber in which said valve moves, said valve chest providing a plurality of separate supply ports opening linto said valve chamber through the Wall of the latter and controlled by said valve for admitting motive fluid to said chest for supply to one end of the cylinder', one of said ports opening through the wall nearer the end of the valve chamber than does the other, a single passage only controlled b said valve for venting from said valve cliest exhaust from said end of the cylinder, fluid conducting passage means leading to said end of the cylinder and arranged to communicate through said valve chest and under control of-said valve with said plurality of separate supply ports and ports differently7 spaced from the center of' the chest and communicating with one end of the cylinder and alluid actuated valve for controlling admission of ressure fluid to opposite ends of said cylin er, said valve having a plurality of independent fluid conducting annular grooves each having imperforate side and bottom Walls and simultaneously communicable with the fluid inletand with said ports, with each groove communieating with a different one of said ports.

3. A: pressure uid motor comprising a cylinder, a pistonreciprocable therein, and

fluid distribution means therefor including a fluid actuated valve, arvalve chest in which said-valve is reciprocable, and a plurality of ports opening from said valve chest into one end of the cylinder and said valve having -a plurality of spools and annular grooves between said spools for controlling admission of pressure fluid simultaneously through all of said ports to said end of the cylinder.

4. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, pis'- ton controlled fluid distribution means including a fluid actuated reciprocable valve for controlling admission and exhaust of fluid to 4and from said cylinder, a plurality of separate passages for conductingl motive fluid to one end of the cylinder, and a pluof the cylinder, a valve chest in which said valve is reciprocable, a plurality ofv fluid conducting passages leadin from said valve chest to one end of the cylinder, said valve having a plurality of spaced spools forming annular grooves through which simultaneous admission of fluid to all of said passages is effected in one position of said valve, and means for also exhausting said end of the cylinder including an exhaust passage connectible through one of said grooves with one of said fluid conducting passages.

6. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein,'and fluid distribution means therefor comprising a piston controlled exhaust port leading directly from the cylinder to the atmosphere,

a`fluid actuated reciprocable valve for controlling admission and exhaust of motive flu1d to and from each end of said cylinder,

' a valve chest in which said valve is reciprocable, a plurality of ports in said valve chest Vleading to each end of said cylinder, and means including a plurality of spools on said valve and annular grooves between said spools for simultaneously allowing admission of fl-uid through all of said ports leading to one end of said cylinder.

7. A pressure fluid motor as setforth in claim 6 wherein said valve is also provided with means for controlling exhaust of motive fluid through only one of the valve chest ports leading to each end of said cylinder.

Y 8 A pressure fluid motor' comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, and

fluid distribution means therefor comprising a valve chest, a multi-spool valve for controlling admission of motlve vfluid to opposite ends of the cylinder, piston controlled pressure fluid means for actuating said valve, a plurality of grooves in said valve chest continuously communicable with the fluid inlet, and means on said valve for alternately establishing communication between a plurality'of said grooves and opposite ends 4of the cylinder.

9. A-pressure fluid motor constructed as set forth in claim 8 wherein said valve chest i s also provided with exhaust grooves and wherein said valve also yprovides means for alternately establishing communication between the opposite ends of the cylinderand one of said exhaust passages/vv 10. A'pressure fluid motor comprising a 1l. A` pressure lfluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a multi-spool fluid actuated valve for controlling admission of motive fluid to opposite ends ofthe cylinder having annular grooves between its spools, a valve chest in which said valve is reciprocable, a plurality of annular 'grooves in said valve chest com-v municable with the motive fluid supply, a plurality of ports leading to each end of said cylinder, one arranged adjacent each of said grooves, a plurality of annular grooves on said valve vfor establishing communication between a plurality of said valve chest grooves and the ports leading to one end of the cylinder in one position of the valve, and a plurality of annular grooves on said valve for establishing communication between a plurality of said valve chest grooves and the ports leading-to the opposite end df the cylinder when the valve is in the other position.

12. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, and

fluid distribution means therefor including a valve chest, a plurality of annular grooves in said valve chest, a passage extending longitudinally of4 said valve chest connecting said grooves and communicating with the motivefluid supply, a passage leading to each end of the cylinder and opening into said valve chest through a plurality of ports, and a fluid actuated multi-spool valve reciprocable in said valve chest to con- UNI lll)

trol admission of motive fluid to yeither of Y the opposite ends of said cylinder from a plurality of said grooves simultaneously.

13. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, fluid distribution means therefor including a fluid actuated reciprocable valve having at least five different spoolswith annular grooves between-said spools, and ports arranged to communicate with said O'rooves to form therewith a plurality of independent passageways for motive fluid from one side of said valve chest to the other, two of said spools controllingseparately and simultaneously admission of motive fluid to one end of said cylinder.'

14. A pressure fluid motor comprising a' cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, and iuid distribution means therefor including a valve chest having .a plurality of ports communicating with a pressure fluid inlet, a iiuid actuated valve lreciprocable in said valve chest and having a plurality of grooves thereon, said valve chest having a plurality of ports leading to each end of the cylinder, there being a separate annular groove in the valve to establish communication kbetween one of said first mentioned ports and each of the ports leading to one end of the cylinder in either position of the valve to provide a plurality of independent passageways for motive iuid from the inlet and through the valve vchest to the cylinder, said valve having a guiding spool at each end thereof and piston controlled means for admitting motive fiuid to said guiding spools for throwing the valve.

15. A pressure luid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, and

fluid distribution means including a valve chest, a valve in said valve chest, means for actuating saidvalve, said valve having at one side of the longitudinal center thereof two grooves, `a passage leading to one end of the cylinder and having communication with the valve chest through two longitudinally spaced ports with which said grooves arel communicable in one position of the valve, and fluid supply and exhaust connections with -said valve chest so arranged that when said valve is in one of its end positions both of said grooves conduct Huid supply to the cylinder through said ports,

' while inthe opposite position of said valve one of said grooves connects said cylinder with exhaust through one of said ports.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signa- :ELMER G.- GARTIN,

ms p. 

